Ephedra

[Top]Ephedra sinica is also known as Chinese-ephedra and ma huang. It is native to Mongolia and Central Asia. The main active ingredient is ephedrine. Ephedrine is a compound, which powerfully stimulates the heart and nervous system.

[Top]Ma huang is used in Chinese medicine; in fact, it has been used for over five thousand years in China as well as India.In Chinese herbology, it is used in numerous herbal formulas to treat flu's and colds.

Other species belonging that belong to the ma huang family have been historically used for numerous medicinal purposes. Mormon pioneers as well as Native Americans drank a tea, which was brewed from the Ma huang family called Mormon Tea